The Pyrénées-Orientales firefighters were alerted a little before 4:30 a.m. this Monday morning: a fire broke out in the heart of the Barcarès Christmas Village. Flames several meters high caused impressive damage over an area of 3,000 square meters : seven wooden chalets were completely destroyed, as well as four refrigerated trucks and three maritime containers, which served as storage places. Around twenty gas cylinders also exploded under the effect of the heat.
The intervention of the emergency services made it possible to prevent the spread of the disaster to the Lydia, the famous liner stuck in the sand on the beach. Around sixty firefighters managed to contain the flames around 7:30 a.m. No casualties have been reported. But the work is far from finished: Around fifty firefighters will remain on site all day, for flooding and clearing operations.
The Barcarès Christmas villagewhich is celebrating its 25th edition this year, was initially scheduled to open its doors this Saturday, November 16. Having become an institution in the south of France, it attracts around a million visitors each winter.
More information to come
Belgium
